The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will hold its presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, but the Electoral Commission (EC) won't oversee them until all legal concerns are settled.
This comes after a request for an interim injunction was made against the commission last Tuesday (May 9, 2023) in an effort to prevent the electoral management body from overseeing the primary owing to claimed irregularities with the party's voter list.
One of the three NDC flag-bearer candidates, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, filed the writ last Monday (May 8, 2023).
Decision
In a meeting with the NDC yesterday, EC Chair Jean Mensa informed them of the commission's decision.
"The commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court," she added. "In order that we are not cited for contempt."
For context, Mrs. Mensa stated that the NDC had requested the panel to oversee the conduct of its presidential and parliamentary primaries, which are scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2023.
According to her, multiple meetings between the commission and the NDC Elections Committee were conducted to discuss the election's modalities, and a set of rules were adopted as a result.
She emphasised that a crucial aspect of the rules was the necessity that the election register be made available to At least seven days before the polls, the NDC polls committee distributed information to the competing parties.
"Earlier this week, the commission received a letter from Dr. Kwabena Duffuor's campaign team alleging various errors and anomalies with the register," said the spokesperson.
According to Ms. Mensa, "the commission felt it necessary to meet with the NDC Elections Committee and the representatives of the presidential aspirants to discuss this issue and come to a resolution."
The meeting, according to her, was supposed to take place yesterday.
She said that the commission chose to cancel the meeting and not oversee the polls after receiving the court injunction on Tuesday.
At least seven days before the polls, the NDC polls committee distributed information to the competing parties.
"Earlier this week, the commission received a letter from Dr. Kwabena Duffuor's campaign team alleging various errors and anomalies with the register," said the spokesperson.
According to Ms. Mensa, "the commission felt it necessary to meet with the NDC Elections Committee and the representatives of the presidential aspirants to discuss this issue and come to a resolution."
The meeting, according to her, was supposed to take place yesterday.
She said that the commission chose to cancel the meeting and not oversee the polls after receiving the court injunction on Tuesday.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0